The car parks were full when I arrived at Gurteen College last Thursday for Grass and Muck 2016.

A significant new credit line for Irish farmers was welcomed last week by EU commissioner for agriculture, Phil Hogan, who said the traditional lending institutions such as banks have done a poor job of understanding the nature of the sector.

The car loans market has a new player after First Citizen Finance announced it will finance car purchases through motor dealerships across the country.

Maynooth-based financial technology firm Sentenial has signed up €500,000 worth of new business across mainland Europe in the run-up to the single euro payments area initiative.